Senior Operations Manager; Adoption, Foster, Shelter Care

Seattle Humane; Bellevue (WA); On-site; USD 95,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Full health & wellness coverage

Generous paid time off

Employer matching retirement plan

Personal pet allowance

Discounts on services

Job summary

A community resource center in Bellevue, WA is seeking a Senior Operations Manager to oversee Foster, Adoption, and Shelter Care programs. The role involves managing departmental teams and ensuring quality animal care. The ideal candidate has at least 5 years of animal welfare experience, with strong communication and collaborative skills. You’ll be responsible for enhancing operations, managing budget adherence, and shaping program initiatives. This is a full-time position with competitive benefits, including health coverage and paid time off.

Qualifications

• Must possess a valid Washington State driver's license.
• Experience in supervisory roles required.
• Proven track record in planning and executing priorities.
• Experience writing clearly and listening effectively.
• Proven ability to work in a collaborative environment with diverse opinions.
• Experience in providing and receiving direct feedback regularly.
• Proven track record of planning skills to determine work priorities and schedules.
• Familiar with Windows environment, internet use and e-mail. Experience with PetPoint and data entry is helpful.

Responsibilities

• Oversee operations for Shelter Care, Foster, and Adoption programs.
• Manage and coach the Shelter Care, Foster, and Adoptions teams.
• Develop and implement programmatic and operational changes.
• Manage capacity for care in shelter and in foster.
• Improve cross-departmental communication and workflows related to animal welfare.
• Coordinate with External Relations on volunteer opportunities and marketing.
• Create and maintain SOPs/SOGs for Foster, Adoption, Shelter Care, and cross-department operations.
• Promote a culture of collaboration, innovation, and creativity.
• Analyze monthly data with the Animal Care Director to meet goals.
• Assist with departmental budgets and financial planning.
• Participate in union grievance processes as needed.

Skills

Animal welfare experience

Communication skills

Collaborative work

Problem solving

Team management

Cross-functional collaboration

Problem solving

Staff coaching

Education

5 years of animal welfare experience

2 years of shelter management experience

Tools

PetPoint

Microsoft Windows

Job description

Position Overview

The Senior Operations Manager (Foster, Adoption, and Shelter Care) oversees the Shelter Care (unionized team), Adoptions and Foster programs at Seattle Humane. They work alongside departmental leadership and are accountable for ensuring the quality of care and creating outcomes for animals at Seattle Humane, both on campus and in foster. The Operations Senior Manager provides day-to-day oversight and departmental direction in alignment with Seattle Humane’s general operations and strategic planning initiatives. This position works in close collaboration with the Animal Care Director and Senior Operations Manager (Behavior and Admission), along with Veterinary and Community Program leadership.

Key/Essential Functions

• Provide management and coaching for the Foster Manager, Adoptions Manager, and Shelter Care Manager and their respective teams
• Work in conjunction with Operation Senior Manager, Behavior and Admissions and Animal Care Director to develop and implement programmatic and operational changes
• Provide day-to-day leadership for Shelter Care, Foster, and Adoptions
• Managing capacity for care both in shelter and in foster
• Work directly with Operations Senior Manager, Behavior and Admission and Veterinary Clinic leadership to enhance cross-departmental communication and workflows, particularly related to animal welfare
• Work closely with External Relations team on volunteer opportunities, promotional projects, social media, and other external facing marketing opportunities
• Create and maintain SOPs, SOGs, or other documentation for Foster, Adoption, Shelter Care, and for cross departmental operations
• Promotes a culture of collaboration, innovation, and creativity
• Stays up to date on industry best practices and standards; and identifies how best to incorporate in Seattle Humane operations
• Assist Animal Care Director with examining monthly reporting and/or other data to ensure goals are being met
• Assist Animal Care Director with developing and adhering to departmental budgets
• Participates in the union grievance proceedings and as needed, implements any agreed upon remedies as an outcome to the grievance process

Secondary Functions

• Assists with volunteer and staff training as necessary
• Participates in daily operations as needed
• Other duties as assigned

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: Directly supervises the Shelter Care Manager, Foster Care Manager, and Adoptions Manager. Provides indirect leadership to volunteers.

Communication/Interpersonal Contact

• Daily written and/or verbal communication with staff, volunteers, and community members.
• Regular contact with clients in person, over the telephone or through email or direct mail.
• Regular verbal and written contact with other animal welfare agencies.
• Regular verbal and written contact with administrative staff.

Complexity

A high degree of independent judgment is required. Must be able to source, cultivate, and analyze data to inform and support decision-making. The position is accountable for developing, implementing, and supporting strategies to achieve organizational goals in conjunction with division leadership. Must be able to coordinate staff and volunteers and remain focused on the agency's objectives. A strong attention to detail and the ability to respond to unexpected questions, comments or requests from other divisions or the public is required. The ability to motivate, collaborate and mediate is important when handling various personalities and emotions.

Knowledge/Experience/Education or Training

• At least 5 years of animal welfare experience.
• At least 2 years of animal shelter management experience.
• Excellent oral communication skills.
• Experience writing clearly and listening effectively.
• Proven ability to work in a collaborative environment with diverse opinions and experiences.
• Experience in providing and receiving direct feedback regularly.
• Proven track record of planning skills to determine work priorities and schedules.
• Must be familiar with Windows environment, internet use and e-mail. Experience with PetPoint and data entry is helpful.

Licenses/Certifications Required

• Valid Washington State driver's license with good driving record.

Preferred

• EBI certification (can be obtained on the job)
• First Aid/CPR/Mental Health first aid (can be obtained on the job)

Physical/Mental Requirements

Must communicate clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing. Requires the ability to solve problems and make clear decisions, sometimes quickly. Must be able to collaborate, organize and manage multiple and complex projects. Requires the ability to pay attention to detail while focusing on strategic goals and objectives. Must possess the ability to be sensitive to other opinions, perspectives, or cultures. Must be able to offer excellent customer service (internal and external). Must feel comfortable in dealing with angry, confused, distraught and/or irrational people. Must feel comfortable handling aggressive or fractious animals. Must be able to lift at least 50 pounds with or without accommodation.

Working Conditions

General office and animal shelter environment. When handling animals, there is potential for animal bites, exposure to zoonotic diseases, animal dander and noise.

• Equipment Use: Office equipment, shelter equipment, and all SH vehicles, including recreational vehicles.
• Work Hours: Salaried full-time exempt position. 40 hours per week schedule. The schedule may vary depending on coverage by other department staff, holidays, or emergencies. Must be available evening and/or weekend hours, as well as for emergency calls and alarm responses.

Location

The position works in an onsite capacity, in the Bellevue, WA office.

Seattle Humane Core Values

Candidate should be committed to Seattle Humane’s Core Values:

• Compassion
• Accessibility
• Innovation
• Responsibility
• Teamwork

Who We Are

Seattle Humane is more than a shelter, we are a community resource center. We're meeting the increasing need for pet owner support services, so that families don't have to choose between an overdue bill and a beloved family member. We're training the next generation of veterinarians in our state-of-the-art medical center. We're building a community of animal advocates through our volunteer and youth education programs. The impact of Seattle Humane is life-changing, for the animals in our care and the people who love them. Our top priority is to connect animals in need of rescue with the people who will love them. Through our outreach, advocacy, and

Equal Opportunity Statement

As an equal opportunity employer, Seattle Humane is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or disability status or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.

The Benefits

At Seattle Humane, we believe in investing in our people, you\'ll receive competitive benefits and perks, including full health & wellness coverage, generous paid time off starting at three weeks, 10 paid holidays, an employer matching retirement plan, personal pet allowance, employee sabbaticals, discounts, and you get to work around cute animals!

Check out our LIST of benefits and perks HERE

Sound like something you want to be a part of? Then apply today!